Report: Demario Davis Signs With the New Orleans Saints

The New Orleans Saints reportedly reached an agreement with Demario Davis, signing the free agent middle linebacker to a contract reportedly worth $24 million over three years. Davis turned 29 on January 11th and is entering his seventh season in the league.

Former Jets linebacker Demario Davis expected to sign with the New Orleans Saints per source. Deal is 3 years, $24 million, $18 million in guaranteed

Davis enjoyed a career resurgence last season with the New York Jets after an inconsistent first six years. The Arkansas State product recorded career highs in tackles and sacks, recording 135 and five, respectively. His 135 tackles were the sixth most of any player in the NFL and were the most recorded by a Jet in franchise history.

Davis also improved significantly in coverage, an area that had previously been a glaring weakness in his game. It was for all of these reasons that Davis earned a Pro Football Focus grade of 87.3, good for eighth among linebackers league-wide, and more importantly best among all players on the team. In addition to his impressive play on the field, Davis emerged as one of the team’s leaders, serving as a mentor to many of the team’s younger players.

Davis began his career with the Jets after the team selected him with their third-round pick in the 2012 NFL draft. He then signed with the Cleveland Browns after an uninspiring first four years in New York. He would, however, not be gone for long. The team reacquired Davis after just one year in Cleveland, trading him for former first-round pick Calvin Pryor. Pryor is now out of the league, while Davis is looking to cement himself as one of the game’s premier middle linebackers.

Davis played collegiately at Arkansas State where he earned first-team All-Sun Belt accolades in 2011. That year, he tallied 69 tackles and 10 tackles for loss, both of which were second best on the team.